Laius

Laius (1346 BC-) was King of Thebes during the 14th century BC, succeeding Amphion and Zethus and preceding Oedipus.

Biography
Laius was the son of King Labdacus of Thebes, and, after his father's death, he became king with Lycus as his regent. However, Amphion and Zethus usurped power from Lycus, whom they had murdered, and Laius went into exile at King Pelops' court in Pisatis. While at Pisatis, he abducted and raped the king's son Chrysippus before carrying him off to Thebes, where he became king due to the deaths of Amphion and Zethus in his absence. He married Jocasta, the daughter of Menoeceus, and the oracle at Delphi told Laius that he must not have a child, or the child would kill him and marry his wife. One night, a drunk Laius fathered Oedipus with Jocasta, and he had him exposed on a mountain, where a shepherd found him and gave him to King Polybus of Corinth, who raised him as his own son. Oedipus later found out from the Oracle that he must not go home, or else he would kill his father and marry his mother. Believing that Polybus was his father, Oedipus headed to Thebes, and, on the road to Thebes, he refused to show deference to King Laius. Laius rolled a chariot wheel over Oedipus' foot, so Oedipus killed Laius and all but one of his attendants; the last one was forced to say that a gang of men had killed Laius. Oedipus eventually went on to marry Jocasta.